Page 36 of Cherish

The Dragon Court has no heart.

And the Gargoyle Court has me—a teenager in way over her head, still trying to figure out the rules of this world.

Which leaves only one thing for me to do.

21

Turn that Crown

Upside Down

“I can’t go to the Shadow Realm,” I say as the truth of these new circumstances settles around me. “I can’t leave with the Crone amassing an army. Not even for Mekhi.”

It hurts to say it, hurts even more to think about not being part of the rescue mission for one of my closest friends. Not to mention sending my mate and my other friends off to the Shadow Realm to confront the Shadow Queen on their own.

It’s a no-win situation. One that has panic racing through my bloodstream, making my chest ache and my heart pound triple time. Any decision I make is going to hurt someone, leave someone I care about vulnerable. But I am the Gargoyle Queen.

It’s my job to lead my army, my job to protect all the paranormals in the world who can’t protect themselves. I can’t just abandon them now, when a terrible threat is on the horizon. The Crone and her hunters cannot be allowed to hurt those under my protection.

“They’re not mobilizing yet,” Artelya tells me. “They’re still growing, training. It will be a while before they march on us.”

“She’s right, granddaughter,” Alistair affirms. “They aren’t coming for us tomorrow. Soon, yes, but you’ve got a week or two at least. There’s time enough for you to take care of Mekhi.”

“Can you guarantee that?” I ask him before turning to Artelya. “Can you? Because if you can’t, I have to be here. What kind of leader would walk away when her troops need her most?”

“The kind who comprehends that gargoyles stand for everyone, including poisoned vampires,” Artelya answers. “And the kind who knows the importance of building alliances.”

“Alliances? With whom?” But I’m already figuring out where she’s going. “The hunters are coming for all paranormal creatures. Weallhave a vested interest in stopping them. Even wraiths.”

“Exactly,” Artelya agrees. “The army supports this. While you take these next few days to save Mekhi, pay attention to where you are.”

“And who I can recruit to our side,” I finish for her. I scratch absently at my palm, weighing my options. I understand what everyone is saying—there is time to save Mekhiandbe ready when the Crone attacks. I can do both. I don’t have to choose.

But the Bloodletter’s warning about Celestials still rings in my ears.

Yes, there is time to do both,ifI survive the first impossible task of saving Mekhi. And if I don’t, I risk losing the Crown to the Shadow Realm forever. That is something I simply cannot allow.

“Grandfather,” I say, and my chest tightens when his faded gray gaze focuses on mine.

“Don’t say it, Grace.” He starts to turn away. “You will make it back.”

I don’t know whether to be hurt by the dismissal or flattered by his faith in me. “You don’t know that.”

He doesn’t answer for a long time, just stands there staring at me like he can see into my soul. And, for all I know, he can. His centuries chained in that cave left Alistair with some freaky talents, not the least of which is making me feel really, really uncomfortable whenever he forces me to meet his eyes for any length of time.

“What is it you want to do, granddaughter?”

“It’s not what I want to do. It’s what Ihaveto do, and you know it.” I hold his gaze, begging for his understanding. And I thrust out my hand, hold it between our still bodies.

At first, I don’t think he’s going to return the gesture. But then, after what feels like an eternity, he slowly holds his hand out to mine.

I press my palm to his.

For one second, a fiery heat burns its way across my hand, and I gasp at the searing pain.

But the pain fades as quickly as it came, and when I pull my hand back, the Crown is gone. It’s now emblazoned on Alistair’s palm, where it lived for more than a thousand years.

“Are you certain this is what you want?” he asks.

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